HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – The Northern Kentucky University men's soccer team opens the 2018 season at Bowling Green on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Bowling Green, Ohio. A live stream and live stats will be available.
"We've had a very positive preseason, and we are all excited to begin the regular season," said NKU head coach
Stu Riddle. "We still have a ways to go in terms of the development of this year's team structure and culture, and the next four matches ahead of league play will allow us to iron out all of the kinks. I know Bowling Green very well, having spent eight years competing against them in the Mid-American Conference, and I know not only will they be an extremely well coached side, but a very good team that is very hard to play against."
NORTHERN KENTUCKY vs. BOWLING GREEN
Saturday, Aug. 25 – 7 p.m. – Bowling Green, Ohio –
Watch –
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Norse went 2-1 in the preseason. NKU defeated UNC Asheville and Asbury by scores of 3-0 and 7-0, respectively. In the team's final exhibition match, the Norse fell to Kentucky, 1-0. The Wildcats scored a goal in the 18
th minute to get the victory.
A YEAR AGO
The Norse finished with a winning 7-6-4 record in head coach
Stu Riddle's first season.
Jim Barkei was named the Horizon League Goalkeeper of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Horizon League First Team.
Harvey Moyes received Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors. Barkei made 55 saves in 2017 and had a .797 save percentage. He also recorded eight shutouts, which were the most for NKU in the Division I era.
SECOND SEASON
Head coach
Stu Riddle begins his second season in charge of the program, and it is his 10
th season as a head coach. He has an overall record of 68-74-25. Assistant coach
Blair Stevenson and volunteer assistant coach
Roger Lane are also in their second years at NKU, while
Sam Brooks begins his first season on the Norse coaching staff.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE SQUAD
The Norse return 14 players from last year's team and add nine newcomers to the fold for 2018.
Rikard Lindqvist and
Tom Suchecki are back in 2018, and each had four goals and two assists last season.
Wes Collins,
Justin Earle,
Ed Harvey,
Will Hunt, Stian Jørgensen,
Sam Mason,
Connor Probert,
Sam Slocum, and
Alex Willis will begin their first season at NKU.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Bowling Green went 7-9-1 a year ago with a 1-3-1 record in the MAC. However, the Falcons sported a 5-2-1 record on their home field. Bowling Green averaged 1.18 goals per match in 2017 and allowed 1.06 goals per contest. Chris Brennan returns for his junior season. He led the team with five goals and 14 points last season. Tate Robertson is also back, and he had two goals and seven assists for 11 points in the 2017 campaign. During the 2018 preseason, Bowling Green played Dayton, No. 17 Notre Dame, and Duquesne.
